Applicator device

ABSTRACT

An applicator device is usable for massaging and applying a cosmetic onto a human body. The applicator device includes an applicator head that is made from one of ceramic and metal material. The applicator head includes a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a contoured surface and a groove unit disposed on the contoured surface for retaining the cosmetic therein. The contoured surface has a rounded first surface portion that is formed at the first end, and a rounded second surface portion that connects the first surface portion and that extends to the second end. The first stir face portion has a curvature larger than that of the second surface portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 103216945, filed on Sep. 24, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an applicator device, more particularly to an applicator device usable for massaging and applying a cosmetic to a human body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of cosmetic applicators can be found on the market. Host commonly seen is a brush, such as brow brushes, eyelash brushes, lip brushes, etc. However, soft bristles used on such brushes are incapable of massaging a human body when applying a cosmetic. On the other hand, when using a cosmetic applicator with a rigid applicator head, a user may not feel comfortable due to the rigid body of the applicator head. Moreover, an issue with this type of cosmetic applicator is that the sleek surface often does not allow the rigid applicator head to retain enough cosmetics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided one type of applicator device usable for massaging and applying a cosmetic to a human body. The applicator device includes an applicator head that is made from one of ceramic or metal material. The applicator head includes a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a contoured surface and a groove unit disposed on the contoured surface for retaining the cosmetic therein. The contoured surface has a rounded first surface portion that is formed at the first end, and a rounded second surface portion that connects the first surface portion and that extends to the second end. The first surface portion has a curvature larger than that of the second surface portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided another type of applicator device. The applicator device includes an applicator head made from one of ceramic and metal material. The applicator head includes a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a contoured surface, a back surface and a groove unit disposed on the surface for retaining the cosmetic therein. The contoured surface has a convex first surface portion formed at the first end, and a concave second surface portion extending from a periphery of the convex first surface portion to the second end. The back stir face extends from the periphery of the convex first surface portion to the second end and has two opposite sides respectively connected to two opposite sides of the concave second surface portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front side perspective view of a first embodiment of an applicator device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is another fragmentary side view of the first, embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear side perspective view of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing how the first embodiment of the applicator device is used for massaging and applying a cosmetic to a human body; and

FIG. 6 is another schematic view similar to FIG. 5 showing another way of using the first embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of the applicator device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying embodiments, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numeral s throughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a first embodiment of an applicator device according to the present invention usable for massaging and applying a cosmetic to a human body includes an applicator head 1 and a handle 2 connected to the applicator head 1.

The applicator head 1 is made from a metallic material that is selected from the group consisting of zinc, aluminum, copper, magnesium, iron, lead, cobalt, tin, and alloys thereof. In the first embodiment, the applicator head 1 is made of a zinc-aluminum alloy including 4 wt % of aluminum, 0.42 wt % of copper, 0.03 wt& of magnesium, 0.0043 wt % of iron, 0.0019 wt % of lead, 0.00016 wt % of cobalt, 0.0089 wt % of tin, and the balance of zinc.

The applicator head 1 includes a first end 11, a second end 12 opposite to the first end 11, a contoured surface 13, a back surface 14, a connecting surface 15 formed at the second end 12, and a groove unit 16 disposed on the contoured surface 13 for retaining the cosmetic therein.

The contoured surface 13 has a rounded first surface portion 131 formed at the first end 11, and a rounded second surface portion 132 that connects the first surface portion 131 and extends to the second end 12, and that has two opposite sides 133. In the first embodiment, the rounded first surface portion 131 is convex and the rounded second surface portion 132 is concave. The second surface portion 132 extends from a periphery of the first surface portion 131 to the second end 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the applicator head 1 has a lengthwise axis (L). The convex first surface portion 131 has a part with a largest width and a curvature that are respectively larger than a part with a largest width and a curvature of the concave second surface portion 132. The convex first surface portion 131 may have a sphere-like shape or other spherical shapes. The concave second surface portion 132 gradually decreases in width from the first surface portion 131 to the second end 12. The concave second surface portion 132 is concaved gradually from the convex first surface portion 131 and the second end 12 toward the lengthwise axis (L).

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the back surface 14 is connected to the convex first surface portion 131 and the concave second surface portion 132. In this embodiment, the back surface 14 extends from the periphery of the convex first surface portion 131 to the second end 12. The back surface 14 has a convex surface portion 141, a flat surface portion 142 and two opposite sides 143. The convex surface portion 141 is proximal to the first surface portion 131 and is convened in a direction away from the first surface portion 132. The fiat surface portion 142 connects the convex surface portion 141 and is distal from the first surface portion 131. The opposite sides 143 are respectively connected to the opposite sides 133 of the concave second surface portion 132. The back surface 14 decreases in width from the part of the convex first surface 131 to the second end 12. The flat surface portion 142 of the back surface 14 is inclined inward and toward the axis (L) of the applicator head 1. Alternatively, the back surface 14 may not have the convex surface portion 141 and the fiat surface portion 142, and may be a fiat surface.

The connecting surface 15 interconnects the concave second surface portion 132 and the fiat surface portion 142 and allows the handle 2 to be connected thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the groove unit 16 includes a plurality of grooves 161 that extend from the convex first surface portion 131 to the concave second surface portion 132. Each of the grooves 161 has a width that gradually decreases from the convex first surface portion 131 toward the concave second surface portion 132, and has a wide groove portion 162 at the first surface portion 131 and a narrow groove portion 163 at the second surface portion 132. The distance between adjacent ones of the grooves 161 decreases from the convex first surface portion 131 toward the concave second surface portion 132. The grooves 161 are divided into two groups by s plane that extends along the lengthwise direction (L) and through the contoured surface 13 and the back surface 14. A distance H1 is defined as the distance between the two grooves 161 which are respectively the grooves closest to the plane of the two groups. A distance H2 is defined as the distance between two adjacent ones of the grooves 161 in each of the two groups. The distance H1 is larger than the distance H2. Thereby, a user may feel more comfortable when massaging and applying the cosmetic to the human, body of the user.

The cosmetic is retained in the grooves 161 of the groove unit 16. Therefore, it is essential to control the width and depth of the grooves 161 within a certain range. When the wide groove portion 162 of each of the grooves 161 is too wide, too much cosmetic is retained therein. When the wide groove portion 162 of each of the grooves 161 is too narrow, insufficient amount of cosmetic is retained therein. Therefore, the wide groove portion 162 of each of the grooves 161 might have a largest width ranging from 0.5 mm to 1 mm. In addition, when each of the grooves 161 is too deep, too much cosmetic is retained therein. When each of the grooves 161 is too shallow, insufficient amount of the cosmetic is retained therein. Therefore, each of the grooves 161 might have a depth ranging from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.

The handle 2 is connected to the connecting surface 15 at the second end 12, and lets the user handle the applicator device there from. The handle 2 may also extend to the back surface 14. Alternatively, the handle 2 may be omitted. The user could use the applicator device by handling a portion of the applicator head 1 that is proximate to the second end 12.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show two ways of using the applicator device for applying an eye cream 3 to skin near the user's eyes. The convex first surface portion 131 of the applicator head 1 is immersed into the eye cream 3 that is received in a container. When the applicator head 1 is drawn cut, the eye cream 3 not only clings to the contoured surface 13, but is also retained in the grooves 161. The first and second surface portions 131, 132 are then brought into contact with the skin of the user with a back and forth movement, for applying the eye cream 3 to and massaging the skin of the user. Alternatively, as shown in the FIG. 6, the back surface 14 may be used for applying the part of the eye cream 3 to and massaging the shin of the user. When applying the eye cream 3 to and massaging the user's skin, the un-grooved structure of the back surface 14 may distribute the eye cream 3 to the skin of the user more evenly than the grooved structure of the groove unit 16. Moreover, the un-grooved structure of the back surface 14 may also have a smoother touch on the skin than the grooved structure of the groove unit 16. The rigid metallic applicator head 1 may effectively massage acupuncture points near the user's eyes. The metallic applicator head 1 may also convey a cool sensation to the user, so that the skin near the user's eyes may be soothed. In addition, appearances of the first and second surface portions 131, 132 and the grooves 161 make the applicator head 1 look like a cat's paw, which may aesthetically appeal to many users.

Referring to FIG. 7, a second embodiment of the applicator device according to the present invention has a structure similar to that of the first embodiment. The differences reside in that the applicator head 1 is made from a ceramic material including a plurality of far infrared particles 17. When applying the eye cream 3 to and massaging the skin of the user, the far infrared particles 17 release far infrared that could warm the skin near the user's eyes, healing bruises and fading black circles.

To sum up, by virtue of the structural arrangement and the material selection of the applicator head 1, the applicator device can simultaneously apply the cosmetic to and massage the human body.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the practical embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An applicator device usable for massaging and applying a cosmetic onto a human body, said applicator device comprising: an applicator head that is made from one of ceramic and metal material, and that includes a first end, a second end opposite to said first end, a contoured surface having a rounded first surface portion that is formed at said first end, and a rounded second surface portion that connects said first surface portion and that extends to said second end, said first surface portion having a curvature larger than that of said second surface portion, and a groove unit disposed on said contoured surface for retaining the cosmetic therein.
 2. The applicator device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first surface portion has a largest width that is larger than a largest width of said second surface portion, said second surface portion gradually decreasing in width from said first surface portion to said second end.
 3. The applicator device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first surface portion is convex, and said second surface portion is concave.
 4. The applicator device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said groove unit includes a plurality of grooves that extend from said first surface portion to said second surface portion.
 5. The applicator as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said grooves has a width that gradually decreases from said first surface portion toward said second surface portion.
 6. The applicator as claimed in claim 5, wherein said grooves have a largest width ranging from. 0.5 mm to 1 mm, each of said grooves having a depth ranging from 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.
 7. The applicator as claimed in claim 6, wherein a distance between adjacent ones of said grooves decreases from said first surface portion toward said second surface portion.
 8. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a back surface that is connected to said first and second surface portions and that has a convex surface portion that is proximal to said first surface portion and that is convexed in a direction away from said first surface portion, and a flat surface portion connecting said convex surface portion and being distal from said first surface portion.
 9. The applicator as claimed in claim 8, wherein said flat surface portion of said back surface is inclined inward and toward an axis of said applicator head.
 10. The applicator as claimed in claim 1, farther comprising a handle connected to said second end of said applicator head.
 11. The applicator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said applicator head is made from a metallic material that is selected from the group consisting of zinc, aluminum, copper, magnesium, iron, lead, cobalt, tin, and alloys thereof.
 12. The applicator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said applicator head is made from a ceramic material that includes a plurality of far infrared particles.
 13. An applicator device usable for massaging and applying a cosmetic to a human body, said applicator device comprising: an applicator head made from one of ceramic and metal material, and including: a first end; a second end opposite to said first end; a contoured surface that has a convex first surface portion formed at said first end, and a concave second surface portion that extends from a periphery of said convex first surface portion to said second end; a back surface that extends from said periphery of said convex first surface portion to said second end and that has two opposite sides respectively connected to two opposite sides of said concave second surface portion; and a groove unit disposed on said contoured surface for retaining the cosmetic therein.
 14. The applicator as claimed in claim 13, wherein said convex first surface portion has a part that has a largest width, said concave second surface portion and said back surface decreasing in width from said part of said convex first surface portion to said second end, said concave second surface portion being concaved gradually from said convex first surface portion and said second end toward an axis of said applicator head.
 15. The applicator as claimed in claim 13, wherein said back surface has a convex surface portion that is proximal to said convex first surface portion and that is convexed in a direction away from said first surface portion, and a flat surface portion connecting said convex surface portion and being distal from said first surface portion. 